Two Million Years BC (A Love Story)

By Marianne Dora Rose

Paula Freda writing as Marianne Dora Ros
presents a brand new
Christian Science Fiction Fantasy Romance
Two Million Years BC
(A Love Story)

Ever wondered if there existed a civilization akin to our own, but far advanced? What if a cataclysmic event removed all signs of this civilization? This is what four earth geologists, Professor Jack Sullivan, Danielle (Dani for short), George, and Matt, suspect as they explore a newly discovered cave in Montana and experience the adventure of a lifetime.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marianne Dora Rose
• Release date: Oct 14, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463680209

Marianne Dora Rose

About the AuthorDorothy Paula Freda, is also known under her pen names Paula Freda and Marianne Dora Rose. Herbooks range from Fiction and Non-fiction Adventure, Romance, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Poetry, Articles, Essays and How-to-Write Instructional complete with Lessons and optional assignments.Homemaker, mother of two grown sons, and former off-the-desk publisher of a family-oriented print small press, (1984 thru 1999), The Pink Chameleon, that she now publishes on line, Paula was raised by her grandmother and mother, and has been writing for as long as she can remember. Even before she could set pencil to paper, she would spin her stories in the recording booths in the Brooklyn Coney Island Arcades for a quarter per 3-minute record. She states, "I love the English language, love words and seeing them on display, typed and alive. A romantic at heart, I write simply and emotionally. One of my former editors kindly described my work, '...her pieces are always deep, gentle and refreshing....'" Paula further states, "My stories are sensitive, deeply emotional, sensual when appropriate, yet non-graphic, family fare, pageturners. My hope is that my writing will bring entertainment and uplift the human spirit, bring a smile to your face and your soul, and leave you filled with a generous amount of hope."

Book preview

Two Million Years BC

(A Love Story)

By Dorothy P. Freda

(writing as Marianne Dora Rose)

© May 1, 2019 by Dorothy P. Freda

Smashword Edition

(Pseudonyms - Marianne Dora Rose aka Paula Freda)

Bookcover and interior photos licensed by

Dorothy P. Freda from iStockphoto.com and

Dreamstime.com

DEDICATION

With thanks to my Dear Lord Jesus and his Blessed Mother Mary whose strength, guidance, and her Holy Rosary, are my anchor in this troubled world, I dedicate this book to my husband, Domenick, whose love, patience and kindness over 48 years kept my dreams and view of the romantic alive and vibrant.

CHAPTER ONE

Good morning, Danielle whispered to Max, her cat, domestic, short-haired, black, except for a few, barely distinguishable white hairs on his belly. Snuggled over the covers, against her side, Max stretched full length, claws spreading, nails protruding, meowing his discomfort at having to leave her side. Max was getting on in years and he enjoyed sleeping. I know, Maxipu, Danielle solaced, but I have to get up. Today's the big day that I'm joining George and the Professor on the trip to Montana, to explore the cave where those classified artifacts were unearthed. At the sound of her adopted sibling's name, Max's ears perked up and he let out another disgruntled meow. Danielle sighed. That's right, Maxipu. George again.

George was the eldest of her siblings. For years her parents had tried in vain to conceive a child. Fertility test after test revealed no physical reason why they shouldn't. Finally, two heartbreaking miscarriages convinced them they were not meant to have their own biological offspring. They decided to adopt. They chose three-month old George who had been left on the steps of an orphanage in town.

For six months after the adoption, the grateful pair hoped to adopt a second child, when her mother conceived again and carried Danielle to full term and successful birth. On a roll, their thanks to the good Lord unending, Nancy and Arthur Abramonte gave birth twice more, a boy and another girl.

Theirs was a Christian household, filled with much love for one another and devotion to the Lord through joyous and not so joyous times. As youngsters, the children had their ups and downs, and standard sibling rivalries, but with maturity they outgrew their differences and made their parents proud. Each left the nest at the appropriate time to create their own lives and families, except for Danielle and George.

Danielle, nicknamed Dani, loved her siblings equally, but since high school, the realization that George was not really her brother, caused her to grow shy in his company. He sensed the growing shyness and like a caring brother, asked her reasons and tried to be helpful. To no avail, he felt, until one day, it dawned on him, that Dani's feelings for him had changed. He read the fierce admiration in her eyes when he excelled at his studies, took responsibility for himself, grew to manhood, and chose a career in earth geology.

From their childhood, Dani was always at his side as he explored the garden and the forestland surrounding their home. She was his peer when it came to curiosity and intelligence, and good grades. As she grew into her teens, she began to question her feelings for George. Brought up Christian in faith and practice, she told no one about them, except to the priest in Confession, fearing that her attraction to George was immoral. Father Phillip advised her that as George was in no way biologically related to her, her attraction to him was not incestious. If George felt the same for her, they could one day marry. He did warn her to remember her Christian upbringing and values.

Father Phillip's advice eased her conscience, but made her all the more alert not to do or say anything that might scandalize George or her family. She never interfered when George dated, resolved that if he never saw her as more than a sister through adoption, she'd respect his chosen partner and be a doting aunt to his children.

She played catch-up with her studies, doubling her courses, making up for the college year George had already completed, so that they both graduated at the same time cum laude with Bachelor degrees in earth science and geology, and secured positions as field workers for an agency specializing in earth environmental history.

The two interned at the agency working as a team. The powers that be at the agency were most impressed with the pair's field work. A cave in the midwest had recently been unearthed with unusual fossils and artifacts. They chose the team of George and Dani to accompany their best geoarchaeologist to investigate the findings.

Dani's cellphone on the nightstand beside her bed played the film 2001 theme music, a symphonic poem by the late 19th century composer, Richard Strauss. Max arched his back and hissed at the phone. It's alright, sweetie, Dani solaced, as Max leapt from her side and ran to the farthest side of her bedroom. She shook her head in exasperation at a loss to understand why the tune terrified him. She had hoped he would grow used to it. But he hadn't. It's okay, Max, she repeated, sitting up and picking up the cellphone to answer the call.

It was George, calling her from his bedroom down the hall. The agency's headquarters was only a few miles from their parents' home. It made sense to George and Dani to continue living at home with their parents, thus saving on apartment rent, and enabling them to contribute toward household living expenses. Their parents were getting on in years, and had both retired on pension and social security. The extra income from George and Dani was greatly appreciated.

Heady enthusiasm filled George's voice. Hey, Dani, are you all packed? Ready for the big day?

CHAPTER TWO

The big day began with an early flight to Billings, Montana, to meet with the geoarcheologist with whom they had been assigned to work. Professor Jack Sullivan and his assistant, Matthew Lockhart, met them outside the airport in a rented four-door jeep fully equipped with the necessary paraphernalia needed to explore the cave where the classified artifacts had been discovered. Jack exchanged hardy handshakes with George and Dani, no stranger to them, geoarcheologist and Professor of Earth History at their alma mater whose classes they'd attended. He considered them two of his best students.

He introduced Matthew Lockhart to